Notes and numbers from UK’s win at Vanderbilt

Kentucky is 14-3 overall and 4-1 in the Southeastern Conference. Vanderbilt is 6-11 overall, 1-4 in league play.

Kentucky leads the series 144-47 and has won three in a row vs. the Commodores.

o UK leads the series 57-29 when the game is played in Nashville, Tennessee.

Kentucky remains on the road for Tuesday’s tilt at South Carolina. The game is set to air live on ESPN at 9 p.m. ET.

UK forward Kevin Knox soars for two of his 17 in Kentucky’s win over Vanderbilt.Photo by Chet White | UK Athletics

In the First Half

Kentucky’s starting lineup featured Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Hamidou Diallo, PJ Washington, Kevin Knox and Nick Richards for the fourth time this season and second game in a row. UK is 4-0 with this lineup.

Kentucky extended its streak of 1,030 consecutive games with a 3-pointer when Washington hit a long ball with 12:46 to go in the opening half.

UK’s defense forced Vanderbilt to go 1 for 10 to start the game and the Wildcats went on an 11-0 run over 5:43 for a 13-6 lead.

UK went on a 6-0 run over the last 2:32 of the first half, which included a Sacha Killeya-Jones layup with two seconds on the clock for a 36-27 halftime lead.

UK held Vanderbilt to 25.9-percent shooting from the field, the lowest of any opponent in any half this season.

UK is 10-1 this season when leading at halftime.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scores two of his game-high 22 in UK’s win at Vandy (photo by Chet White | UK Athletics)

In the Second Half

Vanderbilt’s 56-55 lead at the 7:57 mark was its first since leading 6-4 in the first half.

Tied at 59, UK went on a 7-0 run for a 66-59 lead.

Up by five with 1:17 left to play, Diallo drilled a corner 3-pointer to put the Wildcats up by eight.

With UK leading 70-66, Riley LaChance was fouled on a 3-pointer with 30.6 left in the game and missed all three free throws.

o Knox was fouled immediately after the rebound, sent to the line and made both free throws to give UK a six-point lead.

Team Notes

UK’s seven blocks are its most since swatting eight vs. Monmouth on Dec. 9. The Wildcats’ season high is 10 vs. Kansas.

Kentucky won the points in the paint 36-26. UK is 10-1 this season when scoring more points in the paint than the opponent.

UK shot 53.5 percent from the field, making 23 of 43.

o UK is 7-0 this season when making at least 50 percent, 11-0 when making at least 46.4 percent.

o Kentucky has shot 46.2 percent or better in four-consecutive games.

UK outrebounded Vanderbilt 35-30. The Wildcats are 13-0 this season when winning the battle of the boards.

Kentucky committed only 11 turnovers. UK is 7-0 this season when committing 12 or fewer miscues.

UK was 25 of 37 from the foul line.

o Kentucky has shot 34 or more free throws in back-to-back games and has 22 or more makes in consecutive outings.

Kentucky limited Vanderbilt to just 38.2 (21 of 55) percent shooting from the floor. It was the lowest field-goal percentage for an SEC opponent this season against the Cats. It was the lowest percentage by a UK opponent since Louisville shot 34.8 percent.

The Commodores committed only seven turnovers, matching the lowest by a UK opponent this season. UIC also only turned the ball over seven times.

Player Notes

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Wildcats with a game-high 22 points, the third time in the last six games he’s scored 20 or more points.

He reached double figures for the fifth time in the last six games.

He had six assists tonight and has had at least four in seven straight games.

He has played 39 minutes in consecutive games.

Averaging 17.3 points, 4.8 assists and 4.3 rebounds over the last six games.

Kevin Knox had 17 points with 13 coming after halftime.

He made all seven free throws he attempted.

Scored nine of UK’s final 15 points, including the final four points from the free throw line.

PJ Washington had 10 points and eight rebounds.

Scored in double figures in each of the last four games and five of the last six.

The eight rebounds were the most since he had eight in consecutive games against ETSU and Troy

Hamidou Diallo added 10 points, including a game-sealing 3-pointer with just over a minute to play.

It is the 12th time he has reached double figures in scoring this season

Also added a career-high two blocked shots; he came into the game with two blocks for his career.

Wenyen Gabriel pitched in with seven points and a game-high nine rebounds.

Recent Tweets

1 day agoBegan to dominate defensively before Xmas as I recall. Watching his shot blocking skills grow was fun. Never considered him great on offense in college, but good enough... https://t.co/b5sPN3iavW

LSU players before Yale on strength on the SEC Posted by Curtis Burch | Mar 20, 2019 | Basketball | 0 | LSU players Javonte Smart, Naz Reid and Kavell Bigby-Williams talk before the Tigers face off against Yale in teh NCAA Tournament. They discuss how the SEC has prepared they for the tournament and...